TDD to hold public meeting

The Neosho Transportation Development District's Board of Directors have planned a public informational meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Neosho Middle School.

Whitney Saporito

The Neosho Transportation Development District's Board of Directors have planned a public informational meeting for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Neosho Middle School.

Attendees will be able to see the location and design of future road work near Highway 60, which includes the addition of outer roads and three traffic lights.

Aerial maps provided by the Missouri Department of Transportation will also be available for viewing to allow members of the public to see what the project entails.

Ray Stipp, TDD board chairman, said the event will also serve as a way to update the public about the TDD's projects. "Recently we were able to get some maps from MoDOT that show the overhead view of the actual roads and we were so impressed with that we just wanted to share it with the public," Stipp said. "And, it's been awhile to update the public on the reason for the project to begin with and the advantages that we see that come from it."

Stipp said board members would be on hand to answer the public's questions about the TDD projects.

Work is currently under way on the first of the TDD projects, a traffic light at Kodiak Road and Highway 60, which also includes the widening of Kodiak Road as it approaches the highway on both sides.

The Kodiak Road and Highway 60 project is expected to cost $824,000, according to an earlier MoDOT release. Contractor crews from APAC-Missouri are performing the work and the project is expected to be completed by June 30, though weather or construction delays could postpone the project.

While the initial TDD project has begun, Stipp said all other projects have been put on hold pending the Neosho City Council's decision on whether or not to appeal a November court ruling regarding the city's challenge of the TDD.

The Neosho City Council is set to meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday in open session at city hall council chambers, 203 E. Main St., to discuss whether or not to appeal Judge Kevin Selby's ruling.

The city filed a petition in Newton County Court in August 2012, challenging the validity of the TDD based on state statute.

However, on Nov. 30, Selby ruled against the city's petition, basing his ruling on the doctrine of laches, which meant the city had waited too long to bring their complaint forward.

On Jan. 17, Neosho City Attorney Steve Hays filed a notice of appeal, though Neosho Mayor Richard Davidson said that move was simply protecting the city's right to appeal if they decided to do so in the future.

Davidson said that decision has not yet been determined, and will be discussed publicly in Wednesday's meeting.Stipp said when the remaining projects will move forward depends on what decision the Neosho City Council comes to."If they decide to not appeal and to terminate their appeal we would immediately get with MoDOT and see if they would begin again on the engineering and planning," Stipp said. "There is a delay from this."

The transportation development district was created in February 2011, and stretches from Waldo Hatler Drive to Industrial Drive, and from Kodiak Road to just east of Laramie Lane.

A half-cent sales tax has been collected at businesses within the district since Jan. 1, 2012.